Landing gear mechanism



April 11, 1950 L. R. snuss umama GEAR MECHANISM Filed June 19, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheer, l

w.R G R E /Y u L April 11, 1950 ."R. 3Russ 2,503,869

LANDING GEAR MECHANISM Filed June 19, 1948 y 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 III! III/I III] Ar TUE/V5 rs' Patented Apr. 11 1950 UNIT'ED STATE'SPATENT OFFICE LANDING GEA R MECHANISM:

Lueien Robert Gruss, Middletown, Ohio Application Jlune 19, I948I.Serial N0. 33,968

7 Clai'ins. 244-104) This invention relates 110 improvements. in aeroplane landing gear mechanisms, and 120 improvements in load cushioning o1 shock absorbing dkevices which may be used in such mechanisms.

These, therefore, are the general objects of the present invention.

A.more specific object of this invention is the provision of an improved fluid pressure load aushioning device which may be used as asupport and shock absorbe r in aeroplane landing gear mechanisms and the. like, and in Which the fluid pressure Will be maintained automatically as a, result cf contraction and expansion of ehe device durihg the normal use thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved shock absorber o1 load cushioning mechanism for use between a. pair of relati*vely movabe members,. which normaliy will I?end to resiliently bring such.members together and cushion the movements.

A further object of the invention is to provide an itnproved housing or harness for connecting and supporting a 1oad cushioning device, such as a. fluid shock absorbing mechanism, between a pair 013 movable members..

Other objects anal advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from. the following description in.which reference is made to tl1e accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred. embodiment thepeof.

In Ghe drawingsFig. 1 is a diagrammatic IL- Iust'ration of an aeroplane provided- With the. im proved wheel supporting mechanism of the pres ent. ihvention;.Fig.2 is an axial sectionthrough theloacl cushioning device and the mechanism for comiecting it 110 the structure i the plane, the connecting mechanism being illustrated. in a -fully expanded position; Fig. 3 is a sectionsimilar 130 Fig. 2.but illustrating the connecting mechanism in.a. contract'edposition; Fig. 4is an enlarged secti'onal detail, the plane of the sectionbeing subsfiantially the same as that of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a transverse section, as indicated by the lines 5-5 of'Fig. 2'; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary transverse segtion as indicated by the lines 66 onFig. 2; Fig. 7"is" a sectional view si'milar to Fig. 3 but illustrating the connectingmechanismo1- harness for supporting the shock absorbing mechanism in S60.- Iiibn, the shockabsorbing mechanism havingbeen removz:d therefiom; Fig. 8 is a sectional view i1 lust'rafiing the.attaching. members oi the harness; and Fi'g. 9 "iS a sect'i'onali view. illustr ati'ng the shock absorbi'ng or. load; cushiiming mechanism removed fiorm the harness.

The mechanism i1111st'rated'is particularly wel1 adlapted: im: use in. awheel supporting stnucture for. light-weight aeroplanes.

In Fig. 1, the fuselage III of an aeroplaneds indicated as being supported by a pair ofwheels II anti. I2. Each wheel is mounted on an a.xle bracket M which is connected the fuselageby a bar 'or strut. I6. Thestruts I6=are comparative: 1y rigid and. one endof each strut is secured=-tothe respective ax1e bracket I4, whi1e the othen end is pivotally connectedas at I'I withthe fuselage III. The. movement. of each wheel and strut I6 abouttheir respective pivots I'I' isrestrainedand c0ntrolle& by struts. I8. One end of the struts I8 is pivotally connected as ab I9 withohe respective axle bracket I 4and the other end is pivotally connected as at2 130 the fuselage II) at a, point spaced. from the respective pivot II.

The struts I8, hereinafter to be more fi1!1y described, each comprise apair of telescopic members between which a1oad cushioning or shock absorbing device is positioned. The relation cf the. load cushioning device to the teleseopiomembers is such that the device normally acts to contract I:he telescopio members, am}. thus reduce the length of the stru.t I8, and bring the wheels II and I2 together. The force of the contactbetween the plane and the ground ca.uses

an elongation cf the strut I8, which iscontnolled and cushioned by I:he cushioning device as will hereinafter become more apparent.

Each strut I8, as heretofore mentioned includes a pair of telescopic members which comprise a harness or housing for supporting the shock absorbing or cushioning; device. Thishar ness or housing comprises, as shown in Figs. 2, 7, 8 and 9, a tube 011 cylinder 25 within which a pair of= e.ongated substantially semi-cylindrica-l sleeves 26 and 21 are mounted f01 telescopic movementrelativeto each other. The sleeve 26 is secured the Wall of the cylinder 25, as by bo1ts 28 and 29, and extends from the bottom of the cylinder upward, whereas the sleeve 2'I is mounted for axial movement within the cy-linder. Secured I:o the 10wer end of the. s1eeve 26, as by a weld 29 is a disc or piston 38which carries-an attaching member 3I for pivotally attaching the s1eeve 26170 one 0f the movable membersbetween which I:he cushioning.device is to be used ets;ior instance, the axle supporting bracket I4, heretofore described. Secured the upperend of ehe sleeve2'l, as by a We1d33, is a disc or piston.3d

to which is secured a plunger 35. This plunger projectsloutward beyond.the upper end. of the tube 25 and is providedwith an attaching member 36 for pivotally connecting such sleeve to the other movable member with which the device is 60 be used as, for instance, the fuselage I0.

The sleeves 26 and 21 are substantially the same length, eac:h being shorter than the cy1- inder by a. distanee somewhat greater than the maximum relative movement of the sleeves. A disc or piston 40 is secured to the upper end of the relatively stationary sleeve 26, as by a. weld 4l, whi1e a similar disc or piston 42 is secured to the lower end of the sleeve 21 as by a. we1d 43. When positioned in the cylinder 25, the discs 40 and 42 are the innermost discs relative to the ends of the cylinder a.nd a.re so arranged that they approach each other as the attaching members 31 and 36 are separated ancl move away from each other as the attaching members are brought together. Whi1e the discs 40 and 42 are welded to the inner surfa.ces of the respective sleeves they slidably engage the inner surface o: the other or mating sleeve, thus forming a comparatively rigid structure and insuring alignment of the attaching members 31 and 36.

The upper end of the cy1inder 25 is provided 'with a dust ring 46 which is secured 130 the cylinder by bolts 41, and carries a, packing or dust ring 48. Fig. 5, are each slightly lass than a semi-cylinder in cross sectional area and are positioned 'opposite each other so as 110 provide longitudi- 'nal passageways 48 extending the length of the cylinder, thus insuring iubrication of the surfaces as well a.s preventing back pressure in th e chamber 49 formed between the piunger 35 and th walls of the cylinder 25. Whi1e th end of the cylinder 25 is shWn in ehe drawings as open 'to the exterior cf the housing, it however may be c losed by packing of a type which prevents ingress of dust but permits the air to flow therethrough in either direction.

' AS heretofore mentioned, the atta.ching members 31 and 34 are normally retained in a. contracted position similar to tha.t indicated in Figs. 7 and 3 by a fluid shock absorber or cushioning 'plevice contained within the housing. This device is generally indicated at 50 and is best illustra'ted in Figs. 2, 3 and 9. As there shown, the cushioning device comprises a cylinder 51 which is' somewhat shorter than either the casing 25 or' the sleeves 26 3.11131 21. The cylinder 51 is clo'sed at its upper end by an annular plug or wail 52, the external diameter of which is such als to provide a sliding fit between it and the sleeves 26 and 21. A1: it;s lower end the cylinder 51 is closed by an annula.r plug 53 which has 21 threaded connection 54 with the cylinder. The (Minder l has a partition 55 extending thereacross substantially midway between Ehe inner faces of the p1ugs 52 and 53. This partition is shqwn as being secured 130 one end of a rod 56, 'the other end of which is threadingly secured 'a's at 51 to the upper p1ug 52 of the cylinder 5l'. A 'packing ring, indicated ab 58, is mounted in an 'annular recess formed in the cylindrical wal1 df the partition and prevents the flow of fluid between the chamber 66 formed above the partition and the chamber 61 formed below the pa.rtii:ion.

A piston 62 is reciprocaily mounted in the 'chamber 6I. This piston is mounted on the upper end of a rod 63 which projects through a. naxial opening formed in the lower p1ug 53. Suitable packing rings 64 and 65 prevent the 'flqw of fiuid from the chamber 61 past the p lug 53, while a similar packing ring 66 mqunted in an am1ular groove formed in the pis6on 62 pre- The sleeves 26 and 21, as shown in vents the fiow of fiuid from the chamber 61 above the piston 62 to the chamber 61 formed beneath th piston 62.

In operation the cylinder 51 is partially filled With oi1, for instance, a. sufiicient quantity to fi11 the cylinder chamber 61 between the upper surface of the p-iston 62 and the lower surface of the partition 55, and rise to a level slightly above the partition 55 so as 60 form an oi1 sea1 between the chambers 60 am]. 6 I. The remainder 0f the chamber 63 is then filled. with a compressible fluid under pressure such as, for instance, air. The initial pressure in the chambers 60 and 61 is determined by the pressure required to support a load at rast as, for instance, the pressure required 120 support the plane in the position shown in Fig. 1 with the telescopic sleeves partially distended.

011 is sup-plied 130 the chamber 60 through passageways 68 in the upper piug 52 whieh bring the chamber 66 into communication with the exterior of the device'. 'I'his passageway 63 is normally sealed by a. plug 69. The fiuid passes from the chamber 60 130 the chamber 61 through a restricted opening o1 passageway 10 in the partition 55.

Air pressure is built up in the cylincler 51 by the reciprocation of the piston 62 eine 130 the operation. of the rod 63. As shown in the drawings, and particularly in Fig. 4, the plug 53 is provided with a. passageway 14 which extends through the p1ug 53 and brings the chamber 61 into communication with the exterior of the device. The upper end of the passageway 14 is enlarged as ab 15 providing a recess for a valve 16, the stem 11 of which extends into the passageway.

The valve 11 normally is maintained in a. closed position by a spring 18 secured to the lower surface of the plug 53 by a screw 19 and connected by a. iink with the lower end of the stem 11. The valve 11 may be provided with a sealing washer 8I 130 insure a tight seal between the valve and its seat.

The valve 11 prevents loss of fiuid pressure from the chamber 61 on the down stroke of the piston 62 laut permits air to be drawn from the exterior of the device into the chamber 61 on the up stroke of the piston 62. When the piston 62 moves down (toward the p1ug 53) air in the chamber 61 is compressed and will fiow through a passageway 82 extending through the piston 62 into the chamber 6l whenever the pressu re in the chamber 61 exceeds the pressure in the chamber 61. A valve 83 is mounted in an enlarged portion of the passageway 82 and acts as a check va.1ve prevent passage of fiuid from the chamber GI into the chamber 61, anal 120 permit the passage of fluid from the chamber 61 to the chamber 6l whanever the pressure in the chamber 61 is greater than that of the chamber 6I. The check valve 83 is retained in the passageway 82 by a retainer plante 84 which is secured in position on the upper surfa.ce of the piston by screws 85.

From the foregoing it will be Seen that cantinued reciprocation of the piston 62 will gradually build up in pressure in the chambers 61 and 60. This pressure is iimited by the minimum capacity of the chamber 61 which, in turn, is insured by reason cf the provision of an annular recess 81 formed in the bottom wail of the.piston 62. Whi1e the fluid pressure may be built up in the shock absorber or cus hioning dev ice by actuation of the. plunger 63 prior to placing the unit lowermost positiori (indicated in f3) .lt'hus .tening 110 separate the movble members; When.

an impact or 'load is applied tc 'thelp'iston, es by imovement of such meniberstoward eac'h .other, 'it 'reacts 'against the flliid in lthe Chamber EI, and -.causes the fiuid 130 fiow 'throug*h the rhet1icted opening 10' in the partitii'on 55 .tdpeqa1iz'ethe press'ure'in the ch'ambers 50 and 61. The restriction .o'f Ithe passageway 'HJ lin the, partition 55 and the .compressibility f the ai1 in the chamber 60 .resu'lts in a cushiorfing action. When the'impact -r load is relieved, the .pressure in "the chaniber 50 forces .oil back through the operiini I'll 'into the chamber 6! thereby moving the piston .to its Jowerm'ost position Here ag'ain thef'rest1iction of the passageway 113 controls and cush ions' the .movement of the parts.v The movement 0f the piston under the shock .absorbing iinpabt .not only reacts against thefluidin thetihambers 6l and 6 0 but also reacts against the fiuid of the ait in the chamber E"! to maintain a predeter- .mined minimum pressure in the chambersfland 6l as heretofore described. As long as the pressure in the chambers 60 and 6 I dos not fall be- W the pressure produced in the -chamber =61 this chamber merely assists. in the cushionihg action. However, should the pressure in; the chambers 88 and Ei fa1l be1ow the pressurepro duced in the chamber 61, the latter will restore the pressure in the =chambers 60 and-61.

- The shockabsorbillgdefice 5&1, justdescribed,

tis similar in one respect tocthe, usual fiuid shock absorbing devices, that is, it normally.tends 410 separate the members between which it is counected. It will be remembered, however, that in the improved whe el mounting, the strut I8 normally tends to move the attaching members 3! and 36 toward each other. This is aceomplished by positioning the shock absorbingor cushioning device 50 between the disc 40 of the s1eeve and the disc 42 of the sleeve 21. I

Asshown in FiS 1 and -2"1ihe pistc)n mit-53 o'f the shock absorbingdevibe5 is secured to the disc 42 by a'bo1t 993 wh ich passes through the disc and engages the outermost end of the rod 63. ."The plug 52 at the upper end of the cushi oning dev'ice' 50 is secured by a"bo1t 9l to the -c1isc 'of the sleeve 26. Thus themovement 01" the piston in a direction to move the piston rod 63 out of the device 50 separates the discs and 42, thus moving the attaching members 31 and 36 toward each other and shortening the overall length of the entire unit.

While the cushioning er shock absorbing device is we11 adapted for use in connection with the housing 01 harness mechanism 25, 26 and 2'I it is nevertheless we11 adapted for other uses where it is desirable to provide a cushioning device which normally acts to separate the members to which it is attached. Likewise, other forms of cushioning or shock absorbing devices may be used in connection with the harness or housing of this invention. However, the particular arra)ngement and relationship 01 theihous;g am: sho.dk absorbing device illpstrafidis We'll a'dap't6d 10r use in connect'ion With the1andinggeaj df aeroplanes and provides a self-cpntz'aiirikadin'ezb pensive unit which n'0rmallyj acts "to ibfirigfthe members to which vit is attadhed tdwapd. ea eh other and is so arranged that thehor1fialtzfav8lfdf the vplane across the groundc0mmorilyjlnowh as taxiing, will result not on1yv in thef'ifiitiaLbuflding up of the pressure in the 'devic'eb, b'ut also in the maintenance of substantially' eori'stzint pressure in the device thioughout the ei1tire 'ype ri'od o'f use thereof.

1. A Ianding gear for aeroplanes and the 1i'k'ia comprising, a pair o':f wheels pivotally com'nected to the .aeroplane for swinging move ments towar and from each other, a load cus'h'ioning e.vice pivotally interconnected between ea;ih 'f.;salii:l wheels and theaeroplaine, ea ch dev ice c ompri'sfing a cylindrical housing, a pair of lorig ituinehy 15xtending substantially semi-cylindrica'l S'leeves mounted within said hbusing, one 0f Said'.s1jeevEs being secured'to said ey1inder, connedting nietis secured to one end of said sleeveand extending from one end cf seid housin, the .Qthrf0f55i sleeves being mounted for teles'cogiic mqvemgeni in said housing, connecting means Sejb1ired tbi1g end of said last mentione d sleeve and prdj'eting from the o'ther and of said /housing, pivotal c{o n nections between one of said comte cfti rig mea1i's and the respective wheel and Joetweenfthe dt11 e'gr of said connecting means and the aro; ilane anti a cylindrical fluid pressure load cushiohingmemf mounted between said sleeves and ac'tingpnthe ends of the sleeves oppositefth'e tespectiyecqm necting means and normallytending tomovethe telescopically mounted sleeve intq sa i'd "hpus'ing and contract said device.

2. A 1anding gear for aeropl'a'nes a nld't l;e 1ike comprising, a pair of wheelspivotally pgnn'ected to the aeroplane for swinging move1txei1t toward and from each other a cylinder, a pair' ;of semicylindriizal sleeves mounted in sai d"cylind erfaping each other and substantially .forming"alongi tudinally split tube one of said slee'ves f'b tig secured against movement relativeitosid cy n- -der and the other sleeve being mour itedff atiil movement relative to said cylinder, bm1ecting means secured to one sleeve 'and;projectingfrom said cylinder a second connectingmeans jsecured said device being mounted in 'th e"tbje'formed"by said sleeves and intermediate the endsthefkaof means to secure one of the telesc0ping members to one of said s1eeves at a point remote from its connecting means, and means to secure the other of said telescoping members to the other of said sleeves at a point remote from its connecting means, whereby the separation of the telescop'ing members tends to shorten the distance between said connecting members.

3. A harness for connecting a cylindrical load cushioning device between a pair of relatively movable members said harness comprising a cylindrical housing, a tube mounted in said housing with its outer Wall in contact with the inner wal1 of said cylinder, said tube being split axially to provide a pair of substantially semi- 6Sfl lndrical sleeves, one of seid sleeves belng secured f;o said housing and the other s1eeve being axially movable in said housing, a connecting device secred t one end of 0ne sleeve a.nd pr0jecting ft'orn the corresiion'ding end of said cylinder for attchr'zzent 156 o'ne of the movable inemhers, a second connecting device secured so the opposite end of the other sleeve and project- Ing from the corresponding end of said housing for attachment to the other movable member, and

me'ans at the end of each sleeve opposite its respective connecting device for attachment to a. load cushioning device mounted within said tube, each of said members being positioned betwee n the connecting device atta.ched to its respective sleeve and the corresponding member of theother sleeve.

4. A harness for a load cushioning device or the like comprising, a cylinder, a pair of substantially semi-cylindrical sleeves mounted in said cylinder 'f3cing each other anal substantially forming a longitudinally split taube, one sleeve being secured against movement relative to said cy]incler and the other sleeve bein mounted for axial movement relative to said cylinder, a disc-like member secured to each end of each s1eeve anti projecting across the tube formed. by said sleeves, said sleeves being positioned in said cylinder with the discs on*on e sleeve positioned alternately relative 120 the discs on the other sleeve, connecting means secured to endmost discs and projecting from the opposite ends of seid cylincler and adapted t0 be connected r'espectively so a pair of movable members between which the harness is to be positioned, and wherein the innerrnost discs slidably engage the inner wa1l of the opposite sleeve and are adapted to be engaged by a cylinclrical load cushioning device mounted therebetween.

5. A shock absorbing or cushioning device for use between two relatively movable members comprislhg, a cylinder, a pair of semi-cylindrical sleeves mounted in seid cylinder anti in engagement with the internal Wall thereof, one of said s1eeves being securecl 1:0 said cylinder, means a1;- tached to the last mentioned s1eeve for attachment to one of the movable members, the other sleeve being reciprocally mounted in said cylinder'means attached to the last mentioned sleeve and extending from the opposite end of the cyiinder for seuring said s1eeve 110 the other of said movable members, each of said sleeves carrying a, vdisc-like member extending across the interior of seid s1eeves and slidingly engaging the inner wall of the other sleeve, said members being positioned ab the ends of their respective sleeves opposite to the respective attaching means, and a fluid load cushioning end supporting device mounted between seid. members.

6. A shock absorbing or cushioning device for use bet.ween two movable members including, an elongated housing closed a1: its ends and adapted to be secured to one of the members, flie9ns flxed relative to said housing and extendizig thereacross divide the housing into a pair of axially extending chambers positioned in an end to end relationship with each other, attaching means carried by said cylinder for longitudinal movement and projecting through one end thereof for attachment 130 the other movable mernbem, a piston carried by said last named means, seid piston being positioned in and dividing the chember remote from the attaching means into a pair of sub-chambers, a passageway through said piston, a eheck valve in seid passageway tq prevent the flow of fluid from the sub-chamber adjacent the undivided chamber into the other sub-chamber, a passageway between the last mentioned sub-chamber and the exteriors of. the device, a. check valve in said last named passageway normally actimg 130 prevent the flow of fiuid from the interior to the exterior of the device, and a restricted passageway between the undivided chamber anal the adjacent sub-chamber. 7. A load cushioning end supporting device comprising, a cylindrical housing, an axially split tube mounted in said cylinder with its outer Wall in contact with the inner wal1 cf said cylinder and providing a pair of sleeves, one of seid sleeves being secured against movement relative 1:0 said cyl'mder and the other sleeve being axially 511dable in said cylinder, attaching means secumd to one end of one sleeve and projecting from the corresponding end of seid cylinder for attachment 130 one o1 a. pair of movable members, 9. second attaehing means secured 130 the opposite end of the other sleeve end projecting from th e corresponding end of said cylinder for attachment to the other of the movable members, a cylinder having closed ends mounted in said taube and secured to one of seid sleeves a piston in seid cylinder and projecting through one end themof and secured 110 the end of the movable sleeve opposite the attaching means thereof, am). fluid under compression in said last named cylinder and normally anfin on said piston to move seid piston rod away from the coacting cylinder.

LUCIEN ROBERT GRUSS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this zpadzent:

UN ITED STA'IES PATENTS Number 

